Sack of Nieuw Kapelle

The Sack of Nieuw Kapelle occurred in 1654 during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. A force of around 40 pirates and soldiers from England landed on the south side of the island and advanced north towards the town, taking it by surprise. The defenseless settlement was easily overwhelmed by the pirates and soldiers, whose numbers included grenadiers; these grenadiers helped in destroying the wooden town center. The log houses, market, and bank were also razed, and the Dutch were forced to surrender. The sack of Nieuw Kapelle was one of the closing actions of the First Anglo-Dutch War, and it forced the Dutch to retreat from one of their few northern Caribbean holdings.